Arizona silver belt., 1887-02-05

Is this JefTersonian simplicity, or is
1t, simply, the salety-valve of sn eff
fete demooracy9 "When the president
gives dinner IN hOHor of the diplo-
matte corps he escorts to the table the
wife Of the dean of corps. If she is
absent or if the dean has no wifi, the
president takes the wife Of the senior
minister, according to date of service
The dean escorts to the table the hos
tess Of the White House, But the
daughter of foreign minister, though
the recognized hostess of her fathers
house does not take the rank Of
ministers wife at the diplomatic dim
ners given by the president, The in-i
vitations to the diplomates are re-
stricted to ministers or acting minis
ters. Out Of the corps the invitations
extend only to the secretary Of state
and the chairmen of the senate and
house foreign affairs committees. tits
the duty Of the secretary Of state to
present the guests to the president,
who receives them in the East room or
Blue parlor, as he may prefer. But
with this the secretary,s duty is done,
and at the dinner-table he is simply one
of the guests, having no more promi-
rlence than the chairman Of the COM
mittee."
The foregoing will be regarded as
an attempt, on the part Of our Presi-
dent, to draw the line Of social distinct
ion between ofice-holders and those
who elect them. How would it have
looked for Cleveland, as sheriff Of Erie
county, New York, to have prescribed
such rule for dinner party in hs
humble home in Buffalo2 In the Uni
ted States there is no aristoeraoy Of
birth, nor a priviledged class, and yet
Cleveland, in this, mawkishly attempts
by adopting royal ways, TO overcome
the absence Of pride Of birth, Such
assumption puts fat upon the ribs Of
disciples of NJ. de Tocqueville who are
appreheusiye Of the evils and dangers
Of democracy.
How would fair-top boots, knee
breeches, and swords become dim
ner-out on such oeCasionsP Was 1t
Seward who, when asked by our
Russian minister what he should wear
at State receptions, answered, appear
in the dress OF an American citizen;
that apparel best represents our rePub-
liean simplicity, and if you proyssty
sustain the character. i HlH besuiRcl-
ent 10 command respect" On other oc.
easions. rhen the current Of Washing
fon society sets in ths direction Of the
White House, parvenues gain admit
anee by common entrance while
the bon-tons flank the building and
enter by a rear door, when the con-
fluent streams mingle, arrange them
selves and pass in review under the
immediate presence of hr. and Mrs.
Cleveland, who look as though won
deringly asking themselves, "who are
they Pa question to be asked not
answered, for the reason that the surg
ing crowd come from the Orient and
the dropping West, peopling this ball
Of earth upon every part Of its convex
ity, and having satisfied their curiosity,
Ghe curtain is rung down and the
motely gathering disperses,
When Jackson, the Demothenes of
the Wa1haW log school house and
apostle of Democracy, succeeded John
Quincy Adams to the Presidency of
the United States, and observing the
innovation OF oligarchal manners over
republican simplicity in the White
House, he turned back the tide Of Eu-
ropean eonysutionalities and, in their
stead, leagensd the remaining batch Of
Washington society with the spirit of
equality, which no doubt, was i'm
planted in him by the circumstances
of his birth in the wilderness of pines,
in North Carolina His youth was
cherries, a condition then iuseparable
from frontier life, and while he grew
to manhood nature had endowed him
with the manners of polished gen.
1euian, in which courtliuess and affa-
bility united and rendered him
conspicuous at all times and in all
places, as a peer Of the representative
of the most courtly government Of
Europe, and, therefore, it became an
easy matter for him to re-engraft
upon American etiquette The customs
which had given place through his
week minded predecessors and the
suggestions Of liveried representatives
of foreign courts.
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